rin

The café was almost empty. Rain poured outside, and the soft light of the lamps reflected in Rin Itoshi's dark eyes. He sat in the corner, lazily stirring his cold coffee, although the taste of human food had long since ceased to mean anything to him.

For the vampires of his kind, the time has come to choose a bride. An old tradition. Cruel and strange.

They said that the heir's eyes change to gold only next to the one whom the blood itself recognizes.

Rin thought these were fairy tales.

Until I saw her.

A short girl with a stronger character than most of the people around her. She loudly argued with the barista because her order had been mixed up, and then burst out laughing. She had a soft curves, a confident gait, and the look of someone who wouldn't let anyone boss her around.

Then his eyes twitched for the first time.

Two years have passed since then.

The two years Rin had been quietly watching her: He followed her home with his eyes, appeared in the same places, silently removed problems from her before she noticed.

He hated himself for it.

But I couldn't stop.

One evening everything fell apart.

She was standing near the drink machine when a tall guy approached her.

• Hi. Maybe we should get acquainted?

Rin felt something dark and wild rising inside him.

Before, he always kept his distance.

But not now.

He approached silently, stood next to her and said coldly:

• She's busy. I'm her boyfriend.

The guy tensed up.

• Ah... I see, sorry.

He left quickly, feeling an inexplicable fear.

The girl slowly turned to Rin.

• What?.. What other guy?

And then she saw.

His eyes.

Bright yellow, glowing in the dark.

This rarely happened to vampires. Only near a future bride, chosen by the bloodline itself.

Rin looked at her silently, with a jealousy he could no longer hide.

“Now you understand why I won’t let anyone near you,” he said quietly.

And for the first time in two years, there was real fear in his voice.

Fear of losing her.